Medical cannabis was sold legally in norwegian pharmacies until 1965. After that, some studies was done at ST Olavs Hospital in Trondheim and a few other university hospitals in Norway regarding its role regulating appetite and pain in cancer.

During the beginning of 2000, a group of people startet a secret network of cannabis growers called Dyrkeklubben. The networks aim was to deliver free top quality medical cannabis to norwegian patients who was in need. In 2004 the network gained som much attention from the police and people in the government that healthminister Bjarne Hakon Hanssen gave order to the Norwegian Drug Agency to look into the medical litterature and do a reviewe. From that time norwegian patients could apply the government for medical cannabis trough their doctor.

In 2010 the first norwegian was stopped in the customs at Oslo airport with medical cannabis from the dutch producer Bedrocan. Legally prescribed by a dutch doctor. The person was arrested, suspected of illegal smuggeling of drugs. This in despite that the person had a offical approval from the Norwegian Drug Agencie and all documents needed was presented for the customs and the police. Six months later the case and all charges was dropped as "nothing illegal" had happend. The medicine was destroyed by the special police unit KRIPOS. From then it was offical that norwegian people was allowed to travel abroad to a another Schengen country to see a doctor and get prescibed medical cannabis. The medicine could be brought back on restricted conditions.

In 2012 the Norwegian Drug Agency gives approval for the cannabis spray branded Sativex for MS and pain. In june 2013, the first cancer patient was prescribed Bediol at Sørlandet Hospital.

According to lawyers the author has been in touch with, there are several court rulings that confirm cannabis is medicine. The most known case is a 25 year old man with touretts that suied the government to get access to medical cannabis. He got immunity from the law because it was proven positive effect on his health in court. Where previous medication did not work at all.

There is no public information available on how many is participating in the government program or what kind of medicine they are prescribed. The author has been in touch with and recived many hundreds of emails from desperat people that feel they meet "the wall" in their contact with norwegian doctors. And that the system meant to help those in need of medical cannabis, dont work by it intensions. It often takes a long time, strict restriction to documentation, a demand that all available medicine on the marked is tried with unwanted sideeffects, the doctor and others in the system, lack information about the possibillity and the law. Many doctors still belive in the propaganda and suffer from decades of prohibition. Many norwegian patients feel they dont get the help needed, only a few get through every year. Some has reported problems with the Child Custody Office after discussing the issue his/ her doctor or admitted "selfmedication". Some do also get problems with police because they have to use the black market in search for medicine.

There are two legal options today. One is to travel to a doctor in a another Schengen country where medical cannabis products is available. The products must have been approved by the health authorities in the country its picked up. It has to be prescribed by a doctor and picked up on a pharmacy.

The second option which is far more slow and difficult, is to apply through a specialist in Norway. The application must be sent to the Norwegian Drug Agency and the Healtministry. Available products in Norway on a special import license is Sativex, Dronabinol, Marinol and Bedrocan products.

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